October Term 2023 · Docket 22-6389
When must courts check federal drug schedules for prior convictions?
The dispute centers on which federal drug schedules apply when a court reviews a prior state conviction.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Jeffrey Green argued that the best interpretation supports using the schedules from the prior conviction date.
Michael Adler argued that the 922(g) offense triggers the penalty and requires current schedules.
Raynor argued that the statute text requires using the schedules from the prior conviction date.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 53-19 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 53-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 41-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 41-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 95, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 95, lines 25-27
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case asks when courts must check federal drug schedules for prior convictions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 95, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 95, lines 25-27
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 27, 2023.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-13
What each side wants
Brown wants courts to use the drug schedules from the time of the prior conviction.
The United States wants courts to use the drug schedules from the time of sentencing.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 95, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 95, lines 25-27
What each side says
Brown argues the statute text requires using the schedules from the prior conviction date.
The United States argues the 922(g) offense triggers the penalty and requires current schedules.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 95, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 95, lines 25-27
What the justices asked
Justice Barrett asked why two defendants convicted simultaneously should receive different sentences based on sentencing timing.
Justice Jackson asked if applying the sentencing law at the time of sentencing is the ordinary federal process.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 53-19 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 53-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 41-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 41-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-25
Why it matters
This case determines which federal drug schedules apply when courts review prior state convictions for sentencing enhancements.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 95, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 95, lines 25-27
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 53-19 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 53-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 41-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 41-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-25
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 95, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 95, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 95, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 95, lines 25-27
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.